Bujumbura : FOMI fertilizer shortage, Bubanza farmers cry out for abandonment

SOS Médias Burundi

Bubanza, February 11, 2026 – The distribution of FOMI (Industrial Organo-Mineral Fertilizers) organo-mineral fertilizers, organized on Wednesday in Bubanza district, in Bujumbura province in western Burundi, is causing serious concern. While more than 3,000 bags were expected to cover arrears from previous farming seasons, only 1,200 were delivered to the local stockpile, leaving many farmers in limbo.

According to several farmers interviewed on site, the quantity received is far less than the commitments made during the payment process. “Those who paid for more than five bags only receive a portion, sometimes barely a third. For the rest, we’re told to wait,” laments a farmer.

The situation is more worrying for producers who had already paid for fertilizers intended for the farming season B. Many claim to have returned empty-handed, without fertilizers or even the vouchers meant to attest to their right to withdraw them. “We registered, we paid, but we received nothing. This season risks passing like others, without fertilizer,” confides another farmer, visibly worried.

The local administration, involved in Wednesday’s distribution, acknowledges that the quantities delivered are less than the expressed needs. It indicates that the unserved farmers will have to wait until a new supply arrives. However, no specific date has been given.

Farmers who need specific fertilizers like urea or dolomite, regardless of the season, to address backlogs, say they are particularly affected by this shortage.

Meanwhile, the scarcity of fertilizers is fueling speculation on the black market. A bag of FOMI-IMBURA currently sells for 100,000 Burundi francs, or about 4,000 francs per kilogram, a price more than three times the official rate. Urea, meanwhile, reaches 350,000 francs per bag, nearly six times the regulated price.

Faced with this situation, farmers are asking FOMI to make fertilizers available in time to salvage the current farming season and prevent a significant drop in agricultural production in the region.

The situation in Bubanza is not an isolated case. In several other regions of Burundi, farmers are also reporting delivery delays, reduced quantities, and the need to wait for new shipments without a clear schedule.